Pedal for operating accelerators of automobiles



A. A. WILLIAMS.

PEDAL FOR OPERATING ACCELERATORS 0F AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILEDIUNE 24| 1920.

1,395,78 1 Patenta Nov. 1, 1921,-

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. A. WILLIAMS. PEDAL FOR OPERATING ACCELERATORS Ol AUTOMOBILES.

PPUCATION F|LED1UNE 24,1920- 1 ,3'95 ,781 Patented Nov. v1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

STATE-,S

yParar ALLEN A. WILLIAMS,OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA, ASSIGN'OR TO WILLIAla/IS SOFT PEDAL COMPANY,'OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA,

A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

PEDAL FOR OPERATING ACCELERATORS OF AUTOMOBILES.

I; Application led June 24,k

To all whom 'it may concern.' Y

-Beit known that I, ALrnN A. WILLIAMS, a citizen ofthe United` States, residing Vat Cedar Rapids, in the county of 4Linn'anol State yof Iowa, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements inPedals for Operating Accelerators of Automobiles; and I hereby declarethatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form partof this specification. vThis inventionis a novel attachment for use in controlling. the fuel supply valves of automobiles, and in particular isan improvement .upon the 'attachment shown in my Patent No. 1,309,347, dated July 8, 1919. In` automobiles` the engine fuel supply valve is usually operatively connected with a lever or rod (commonly called an accelerator) which projects-into the machine adjacent the operators seatso that theoperator can by slightpressure of his foot on such acceleratorcause an increased supply offuel ltothe engine7 when he desires to augment the speed or power of the machine, thus varying the supply of fuel by varyingV the ressure uponsaid accelerator. T e foot accelerator is 4ordinarily constructed of metal and Awhen the machine is used for' along time becomes very hot and uncomfortable to the -operator, frequently causing him foot trouble when driving a long time without stopping. Furthermore on rough roads the drivers foot is' apt to be lj arred off the accelerator, .unless he holds his footin a more or lesscramped position and under tension, to keep uit contact with the accelerator.

n yIheobjects of my invention are to provide an attachment which will prevent transmission of heat from theV accelerator to the foot of the driver; lessenv wear on the drivers shoe; provide a 'firm brace forvthe foot; support theweight` of the drivers leg comfortably; enable him to maintain easycontrol of the accelerator Vwithout his Yfoot becoming unduly heated,`or cramped, or being jarred out of control of the 'accelerator Von rough roads; and enable him to feed the gas steadily when driving over rougih lroads without having to resort to the hand control; and in'addition the particular object of my present invention, is to provide an improved attachment which will have all the aforesaid advantages of my patented at- Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

1920.Y serial No. 391,334.

tachment, and which will in addition enable the toe member and the heel member to be independently raised or folded back, so as to permit ready access to the batteries or transmission, lor the portion of the vehicle beneath the pedal and rfloor of car; and which will permit the pedal support to be readily adjusted. The improved attachmentycan be readilysecured to the vehicle; and its partsv can be readily inspected and adjusted as may be desired or required in the practical utilization of the invention.

` A' practical embodiment of the invention is illustratedv inthe accompanying drawings and'hereinafter described; and the claims summarize the novel features and combinations for which protection is desired.

In the drawings: v n

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete attachment in position for use.

n F ig. 2 is a side view showing the heel member foldedfover the toe member. ,I Fig. 3 is a similar view toFig. 2, showing f the toe member folded over the heel member.

Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4 4, Fs- 2- 4 Fig. 5 lis a detail` section on line -5-5, Fig.` 4. 1 i I 4 The attachmentl as shown comprises a` pedal havinga toe member l. and -a heel member 2; and asupporting member 3.

Preferablythis supporting member is a yoke having perforated eyesl on its bifurcated upper end for 'the passage of a hinge pin 4, which also transfixes an eyeJAY 1aon the toe memb'erl, and eyes 2a on the heel member 2,'as shown. The eye 1a is hinged on pin 4 between the eyes 3a; and the eyes@a are hinged on pin 4 exterior to the eyesl 3a.

The support 3 rpreferably has a shank 3b which may be adjustably secured to the bottom of the vehicle adjacent the accelerator' yA by anyv suitable means. As shown I have provided a base casting having ianges by which it Acan be secured to the flooring of the vehicle body by means of screws or bolts 5a, and ysaid base'has a vertical split-socket portion brforthe reception of the shank 3", and such shank can be 'firmly clampedv to the base by contracting the split-socket thereon. by means of the bolt 5c. thus firmly and-securely supporting the pedal in position. V

' `The baseimember 5 can bereadily secured bearing'for the sole of the operators shoe in the vehicle in position to support the pedal adjacent the accelerator lever A at a point most comfortable for .the operator when seated in the vehicle.

The toe member 1 of the pedal is preferably made of metal and has an eye 1a on one end and a head 6 on its other end preferably connected by a shank portion 1S. The toe member is hinged on the pin 4 by means of the eye la; and preferably slightly curved downwardly awayfrom the eye and extends forwardly to head 6. This shank portion 1S is curved between the eye and the head so that it will not cause any pressure upon thek shank of the shoe or. arch of the vfoot of the operator. The shank ls` of the toe memberis'also preferably narrow so as not `to interfere with the operation of the brake lever. Y Y

The presser head isvso positioned relatively to the heeland shank portions of the pedal that it will lit vneatly under the sole ofthe drivers shoe. Said presser head is preferably oblong and of sufficient size to provide la substantial surface contact or and to insure its engagement with the foot accelerator A.

The presser head 6 is preferably provided with a, heatinsulating Yplate 6a of wood7 or other suitable material; and with a top wear-plate 6b of rubber,ror other `suitable material7 to contact with the sole of the shoe. The head 6 itself forms a metal wear-plate directly contacting with the footj accelerator A. I

The heel member 2 is provided on its front 'A end*A with an upstanding portion 2b from which the eyes 2a projectupwardly, so that (when the pedal'is in horizontal position) the heel member lies in a plane below the pin l and the head 6 lies, preferably, in a plane somewhat above that of the heel member.

The heel member 2 is also provided with an upstanding flange 2e at itsv rear end, adapted to engage the rear end of the heel of the operators shoe land assistin. retaining the foot easily in positionon the pedal. Said heel member is also preferably vpro vided with a depressed portion 2C, adjacent the flange 2b approximately conforming to the shape of the lower part of the heel of a ywomans shoe, so that when the pedal is used by a woman, the heel of her shoe will' engage the recess and her foot be thereby easily retained in position on the pedal.

e The heel member 2 is alsol preferably pro-V vided with a lateral projection 2P at one side upon which the operatorcan rest his heel with his foot at anangle to the pedali and the toe ofhis shoe removedV from the head 6,.

The' eye la of the toe member 1 is provided with a depending liprlb which bears againstthe upstanding end portion 2b of the heelmember 2, when the parts are in operative position as shown, sozthat depression of the heel member 2 will lift thetoe member, or depression of the toe member will tor A; an adjustable stopibolt 7 maybe tapped through a lug 2ten the underside of the heel member 2 and thehead of this bolt engaging theshankofthe member 3 (as shown in Fig, 3) limits the depression o f -theheel ofthe f pedal and correspondingly limits the elevation of the presser head 6;

so thatthe pedal can be adjusted tof suit various heights `of foot accelerators Aiorthe projectionjof such acceleratorsV above the floor of the car; and thus'render'the pedal very sensitive andeasy inY its actionY uponL the `accele'rator, without loss or idle motion.

The headV 6aA insulates 4the operators Shoe from the hot. accelerator A, and keeps the V l foot of the wearer cool, and*V at the'same time Qprovides a substantiall broad member forl engagement of the foot of the operator; and he does not haveto' hold his foot ina cramped position in order to keep full. control ofthe accelerator. A

The operators heel is supported'on the member 2 in rear'ofjthe hinge connection 4., and he can brace his foot solidly against the hinge and by'simply slightly depressing his toe `can control the accelerator lin thesamemanner as he wouldif the, pedal were not present, butwith` greater certainty. of operation when riding on rough roads, and with ,a great deaLmore comfort, Theoper ator can rock the pedal uponV the standard;

the heelrising asrthetoe descends,'b.ut not to so great an extent; this obviatesthe necessity of the operatorsbending thetoe .portion of his foot in order to depress the headv 6 and accelerator- At the'Same-time, byreason of the j oeculiar connection or shape of the 'heelV and instep portions ofthe pedal, the operator can brace his foot andl leg firmly.l against thel standard on which the pedal ispivoted [andY easily control the'accelerator at all times.

By having the heel and toe' membersepa.-

rately and independently hinged lto the standard either orfboth. members can be. raised so asto permit ready access .to the underlying ioor of the vehicle. This enables the complete attachment to be assembled at the factory; and to be readily secured in position; and the height of the standard can be readily adjusted after the base plate is secured to the vehicle by adjusting the screw 5; and the normal angle at which the pedal stands can'be readily determined by adjusting the bolt 7 All of the parts are easily accessible; and the floor of the vehicle can be readily cleaned beneath the heel member or the toe member, and access can be readily had to the foot accelerator, batteries, and transmission without having to remove the attachment.

What I claim is: n v

l. An attachment for operating the accelerator of automobiles, comprising a standard; a heel member pivoted on this standard; and a toe member pivoted on the standard independently or' the heel member; the

toe member having a portion adapted to engage the accelerator, substantially as described.

2. An attachment for the purpose speciied comprising a support adapted to be secured to the floor of an automobile adjacent the accelerator; a heel member hinged to said support; and a toe member hinged to said support so that said members can be independently raised.

3. An attachment fied comprising a support adapted to be secured to the floor of an automobile adjacent the accelerator; a heel member hinged to said support; and a toe member hinged to said support so that said members can be independently raised, the heel member lying below the hinge pintle, and the toe member overlying the accelerator.

4. An attachment for operating the accelerator of automobiles, comprising a standard; a heel member pivoted on this standard; and a toe member pivoted on the standard independently of Athe heel member; the toe member having a portion adapted to engage the accelerator; `and the heeland toe members having interengaging parts whereby they are caused to oscillate as one-when in operative position.

5. An attachment for the purpose specified comprising a support adapted to Ybe secured to the floor of an automobile adjacent the accelerator; a heel member hinged toV the heel member for regulating theV depressed position of the heel member.

6. An attachment for the purpose specified comprising a support adapted to be secured to the oor of an automobile adj acentv for the` purpose specij the accelerator; a heel member hinged to said support; and a toe member hinged to said support so that said members can be independently raised; the heel and toe members having interengaging parts whereby toe member having a portion adapted to en-y gage the accelerator; the heel and toe members having interengaging parts whereby they are caused to oscillate as one when in operative position; and means connected with the heel member for regulating the de.- pressed position of the heel member.

8. An attachment for the purpose specilied comprising a supporting member having an upstanding portion providing a brace for the heel of the operator; a heel member hinged to said support and lying below the hinge pintle; a toe member having one end hinged to said support and a presser head on its other end; and means on the heel andtoe members whereby they are caused to oscillate as one when in lowered position.

9. An attachmentfor the purpose specified comprising a supporting Y,member having an upstanding portion providing a brace for the heel of the operator; a'heel member hinged to said support and lying below the hinge pintle; a toe member havingone end hinged to said support and a presser head on its other end; means on the heel and toe members whereby they are caused to oscillate as one when in vlowered position; and means connected with the heel member 'for regulating the depressed position of the heel member.

10. An attachment for the purpose specilied, comprising an adjustable supporting member adapted to be secured to the Hoor of an automobile adjacent the accelerator and providing a brace for the heel of the operator; a heel member hinged to said support and lying below the hinge pintle; a toe member having one end hinged to said support and apresser head on its other end; said heel and toe members being independently hinged; means on the heel and toe members whereby they are caused to oscillate as one when in lowered position; and means connected with the heel member-for regulating the depressed position of the heel member.

Y In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my'own, I ah'ix my signature.

ALLEN A. WILLIAMS. 

